Our first organic walnut crop

Sharpham Park, the champion of British Spelt, is delighted to announce that the first organic walnut crop has been produced for cooks and food lovers.

Walnuts were originally planted by the Abbots of Glastonbury and have always been part of Sharpham Park's farming economy and history. Twelve years ago, Roger Saul, the founder of Sharpham Park planted 300 walnut trees on his organic estate.

October 2016Video

Health benefits:

Walnuts are one of the few plant-based foods, which contain high levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids and are a vital part of a healthy diet.

Recent scientific studies have shown that the consumption of walnuts may help in promoting healthy brain function.

Rich in heart protecting plant serums, research has also found that eating a handful of walnuts a day provides protection from heart disease. Scientists found 'significant' improvements in cholesterol levels and blood vessel flexibility, which helps blood flow smoothly, just four hours after people consumed either the shelled nuts or walnut oil.

Walnuts are a little powerhouse of nutrients, they are a good source of protein and fibre and micro nutrients including zinc, magnesium and manganese which are often lacking in Western diets.

'When I first found the remains of a monk's lunch of walnuts, scallop shells and chicken bones stuffed into the lime mortar of a medieval wall of Sharpham, I knew I had to grow walnuts.

What I didn't know was that it would take me more than 20 years to get there'.

ROGER SAUL Founder of Sharpham Park

SPELT cookbook by Roger Saul

Walnuts can be enjoyed on their own or used in a range of delicious recipes, some of which can be found in the Sharpham Park SPELT cookbook.

Delicious recipes range from Gnocchi with Walnut and Basil Pesto to Walnut and Stilton bread where the salty tang of the stilton gives it real depth and flavour, perfectly balancing the crunch of the walnuts. One recipe that is sure to become a firm favourite for any walnut lover is the Walnut and Coffee Cake with Grumble Streusel.

Sharpham Park @SharphamParkWe are the ‘Champions of British Spelt’ and for the last 12 years we’ve been growing spelt organically on our 300 acre farm near Glastonbury. Today we are the largest producer of organic spelt in the UK, supplying everyone from independent farm shops to leading supermarkets. #SBS https://pic.twitter.com/Z58CK6iG31 - 19 hours ago